I've reviewed a couple of Butcher's Dresden Files books and I enjoyed them quite a bit. I would like to read more of his stuff, but my library doesn't carry the next one I need. Luckily, I was able to get The Aeronaut's Windlass through my library's eBook collection. I was excited because I really liked Butcher's other stuff and I can appreciate, and enjoy, a good steam punk. Windlass was not a good steam punk, it was a great steam punk. It was accessible, mysterious, funny, intriguing, exciting, and captivating. Because I have a lot of reading time on the bus, I don't tend to read to myself at home. However, I couldn't get enough of this book and finished in traditional fashion, lying in bed unable to sleep until I finished it. It's the third of six books that I've got on my plate at the moment. And I'm glad that I was able to enjoy it.
Plot: The Spires are community that rises into the sky in structures built by unknown hands that are connected via airships powered by crystals grown over years, decades, and centuries. While they usually get along, every once in a while there are difficulties. Spire Albion is a prosperous "country", ruled by a council of noble houses and protected by the Fleet. Captain Francis Madison Grimm is not with the fleet. He was, but he was drummed out for cowardice, or at least that's what the official report said. Since then he's been making his way as a privateer wreaking havoc on Spire Aurora's merchant shipping. Enough that they decided to try to shoot down his ship. Limping home Grimm arrives in time to help repel a full scale assault on Spire Albion by Spire Aurora. Grimm isn't the only one that is able to lend a hand at the time of the assault. Gwendolyn, Benedict, Bridget and Rowl (a cat) are recruits finishing their training in the Guard who find themselves faced with the enemy. Showing great coolness and cunning while under fire they catch the eye of the man in charge and are tasked with a mission of finding out what the attack was trying to cover. There is more than meets the eyes going on.
My personal favorites: I liked everything about this book, the characters, the plot, the world, the action. Everything. It was gripping and complex, yet easy to follow. The cats were wonderful, adding intrigue and comic relief in turn. Yet everything was balanced so well that it didn't feel too much at any time. The tension was consistent but I didn't get desensitized. The learning curve was fairly lengthy but it was a gradual and, again, easy to follow. Butcher does a great job with action and suspense and there were several stand up and cheer moments. All in all it was a great read and an awesome ride.
Considerations: There was plenty of violence, but little of it was graphic. Some strong language, but nothing my that jumped out - a lot of it was in world language. Some sensuality, but very, very little, and nothing descriptive. I would probably recommend it for more of a mid to later young adult (sixteen and up) more for situation and technology considerations than for anything else.
I loved The Aeronauts's Windlass. It was a great action/adventure story told in a fun world and by an expert storyteller. It would be a great read for someone interested in steampunk or someone looking for a fun take on sci-fi. Either way, it's a total win. I got it on ebook, so I cannot say how long it was.
Plot: The Spires are community that rises into the sky in structures built by unknown hands that are connected via airships powered by crystals grown over years, decades, and centuries. While they usually get along, every once in a while there are difficulties. Spire Albion is a prosperous "country", ruled by a council of noble houses and protected by the Fleet. Captain Francis Madison Grimm is not with the fleet. He was, but he was drummed out for cowardice, or at least that's what the official report said. Since then he's been making his way as a privateer wreaking havoc on Spire Aurora's merchant shipping. Enough that they decided to try to shoot down his ship. Limping home Grimm arrives in time to help repel a full scale assault on Spire Albion by Spire Aurora. Grimm isn't the only one that is able to lend a hand at the time of the assault. Gwendolyn, Benedict, Bridget and Rowl (a cat) are recruits finishing their training in the Guard who find themselves faced with the enemy. Showing great coolness and cunning while under fire they catch the eye of the man in charge and are tasked with a mission of finding out what the attack was trying to cover. There is more than meets the eyes going on.My personal favorites: I liked everything about this book, the characters, the plot, the world, the action. Everything. It was gripping and complex, yet easy to follow. The cats were wonderful, adding intrigue and comic relief in turn. Yet everything was balanced so well that it didn't feel too much at any time. The tension was consistent but I didn't get desensitized. The learning curve was fairly lengthy but it was a gradual and, again, easy to follow. Butcher does a great job with action and suspense and there were several stand up and cheer moments. All in all it was a great read and an awesome ride.
Considerations: There was plenty of violence, but little of it was graphic. Some strong language, but nothing my that jumped out - a lot of it was in world language. Some sensuality, but very, very little, and nothing descriptive. I would probably recommend it for more of a mid to later young adult (sixteen and up) more for situation and technology considerations than for anything else.
I loved The Aeronauts's Windlass. It was a great action/adventure story told in a fun world and by an expert storyteller. It would be a great read for someone interested in steampunk or someone looking for a fun take on sci-fi. Either way, it's a total win. I got it on ebook, so I cannot say how long it was.
No comments:
Post a Comment